2026-09-11 | 2026-18572

Added

Publication of Venezuela Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 50A and 51A

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published General Licenses (GL) 50A and 51A under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. GL 50A, effective February 18, 2026, authorizes specific entities, including BP PLC and Chevron Corporation, to engage in certain oil or gas sector operations in Venezuela, requiring U.S. law governance for contracts, U.S. dispute resolution, and payments to blocked persons into designated funds. GL 51A, effective March 27, 2026, authorizes established U.S. entities to conduct transactions related to the exportation, reexportation, sale, or transportation of Venezuelan-origin minerals, including gold, under similar contractual and payment conditions. Both licenses prohibit transactions involving certain countries like Russia and China, specific payment methods, and require detailed reporting to designated U.S. government email addresses within ten days of the first transaction and periodically thereafter.

Source: Office of Foreign Assets Control — original document

Summary generated with machine assistance and reviewed before publication; the authoritative text is the regulator's original document. How RegAlert works

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Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127 and 315; 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and 31114; sec. 347, Pub. L. 108–7, 117 Stat. 419; sec. 756, Pub. L. 109–58, 119 Stat. 829; sec. 1309, Pub. L. 109–59, 119 Stat. 1219; sec. 115, Pub. L. 109– 115, 119 Stat. 2408; sec. 5516, Pub. L. 114– 94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1557; 49 CFR 1.81(a)(3). ■ 2. Amend Appendix A to part 658 in the section for ‘‘New York’’ by adding an entry for ‘‘Business Loop 81 (BL 81) to the end of the section: Appendix A to Part 658—National Network—Federally-Designated Routes


Route From To


New York


Business Loop 81 (BL 81). I–81 South￾ern Inter￾change, Syracuse. NY481/I–81 Northern Inter￾change, Cicero.


[FR Doc. 2026–18548 Filed 9–10–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control 31 CFR Part 582 Publication of Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations Web General License 5 AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Publication of a web general license. SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing a general license (GL) issued pursuant to the Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations: GL 5, which was previously made available on OFAC’s website. DATES: GL 5 was issued on April 16, 2026. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional relevant dates. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, 202–622–4855; or https:// ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available on OFAC’s website: https:// ofac.treasury.gov/. Background On April 16, 2026, OFAC issued GL 5 to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by the Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 582. This GL was made available on OFAC’s website (https://ofac.treasury.gov) when it was issued. The text of this GL is provided below. OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 582 GENERAL LICENSE NO. 5 Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Exportadora de Metales Sociedad Anonima (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions prohibited by the Nicaragua Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 582 (the NSR), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of any transaction involving Exportadora de Metales Sociedad Anonima (EMSA), or any entity in which EMSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, are authorized through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, May 16, 2026, provided that any payment to a blocked person is made into a blocked account in accordance with the NSR. (b) This general license does not authorize any transactions otherwise prohibited by the NSR, including transactions involving any person blocked pursuant to the NSR other than the blocked persons described in paragraph (a) of this general license, unless separately authorized. Bradley T. Smith, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Dated: April 16, 2026. Bradley T. Smith, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. [FR Doc. 2026–18565 Filed 9–10–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control 31 CFR Part 591 Publication of Venezuela Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 50A and 51A AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Publication of web general licenses. SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing two general licenses (GLs) issued pursuant to the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations: GLs 50A and 51A, each of which was previously made available on OFAC’s website. DATES: GL 50A was issued on February 18, 2026. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional relevant dates. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, 202–622–4855; or https:// ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Availability This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available on OFAC’s website: https:// ofac.treasury.gov/. Background On February 18, 2026, OFAC issued GL 50A to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (VSR). GL 50A replaced and superseded GL 50. On March 27, 2026, OFAC issued GL 51A to authorize certain transactions otherwise prohibited by VSR. GL 51A replaced and superseded GL 51. These GLs were made available on OFAC’s website (https://ofac.treasury.gov) when they were issued. The text of these GLs is provided below. OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591 GENERAL LICENSE NO. 50A Authorizing Transactions Related to Oil or Gas Sector Operations in Venezuela of Certain Entities (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions prohibited by the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), including those involving the Government of Venezuela, Petro´leos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest (collectively, ‘‘PdVSA Entities’’), that are related to oil or gas sector operations in Venezuela of the entities listed in the Annex to this general license and their subsidiaries are authorized, provided that: (1) Any contract for such transactions with the Government of Venezuela, PdVSA, or PdVSA Entities specify that the laws of the United States or any

jurisdiction within the United States govern the contract and that any dispute resolution under the contract occur in the United States; and (2) Any monetary payment to a blocked person, excluding payments for local taxes, permits, or fees, is made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds, as specified in Executive Order 14373 of January 9, 2026, or any other account as instructed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Note 1 to Paragraph (a)(2). Any payments of oil or gas taxes or royalties to the Government of Venezuela, PdVSA, or any PdVSA Entity must be paid into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds or any other account as instructed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. (b) This general license does not authorize: (1) Payment terms that are not commercially reasonable, involve debt swaps or payments in gold, or are denominated in digital currency, digital coin, or digital tokens issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela, including the petro; (2) Any transaction involving a person located in the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the People’s Republic of China, or any entity that is owned or controlled by or in a joint venture with such persons; (3) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to the VSR; or (4) Any transaction involving a blocked vessel. (c) Any person that engages in transactions pursuant to this general license must provide a detailed report to Sanctions_inbox@state.gov and VZReporting@doe.gov that identifies: (1) The parties involved; (2) A description of the transactions, including, as relevant, the quantities, values, and dates of the transactions; and (3) Any taxes, fees, or other payments provided to the Government of Venezuela. (d) Reports described in paragraph (c) are due ten days after the execution of the first of such transactions and every 90 days thereafter while such transactions are ongoing. (e) Effective February 18, 2026, General License No. 50, dated February 13, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 50A. Note to General License No. 50A. Nothing in this general license relieves any person from compliance with the requirements of other Federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. Bradley T. Smith, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Dated: February 18, 2026. Annex—Entities Described in Paragraph (a) of General License 50A List of Entities Described in Paragraph (a) of General License 50A as of February 18, 2026: Entity BP PLC Chevron Corporation Eni S.p.A. E´tablissements Maurel & Prom SA Repsol S.A. Shell PLC OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL Venezuela Sanctions Regulations 31 CFR Part 591 GENERAL LICENSE NO. 51A Authorizing Certain Activities Involving Venezuelan-Origin Minerals, Including Gold (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this general license, all transactions prohibited by the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (the VSR), including those involving the Government of Venezuela, CVG Compania General de Mineria de Venezuela CA (Minerven), or any entity in which Minerven owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest (collectively, ‘‘Minerven Entities’’), that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the exportation, reexportation, sale, resale, supply, storage, purchase, delivery, or transportation of Venezuelan-origin minerals, including gold, by an established U.S. entity, are authorized, provided that: (1) Any contract for such transactions with the Government of Venezuela, Minerven, or Minerven Entities specify that the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States govern the contract and that any dispute resolution under the contract occur in the United States; and (2) Any monetary payment to a blocked person, excluding payments for local taxes, permits, or fees, is made into the Foreign Government Deposit Funds, as specified in Executive Order 14373 of January 9, 2026, or any other account as instructed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Note 1 to Paragraph (a). For purposes of this general license, the term ‘‘established U.S. entity’’ means any entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States on or before January 29, 2025. Note 2 to Paragraph (a). Transactions authorized by paragraph (a) include conducting commercial, legal, technical, safety, and environmental due diligence and assessments ordinarily incident to the activity authorized in paragraph (a). Transactions authorized by paragraph (a) also include arranging shipping and logistics services, including chartering vessels, arranging security services, obtaining marine insurance and protection and indemnity (P&I) coverage, and arranging port and terminal services, including with port authorities or terminal operators that are part of the Government of Venezuela. Note 3 to Paragraph (a). Transactions authorized by paragraph (a) include the processing or refining of such minerals, except as provided by paragraph (b). (b) This general license does not authorize: (1) Payment terms that are not commercially reasonable, involve debt swaps or in-kind payments, or are denominated in digital currency, digital coin, or digital tokens issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela, including the petro; (2) Any transaction involving a person located in or organized under the laws of the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, or any entity that is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by or in a joint venture with such persons; (3) Any transaction involving an entity located in or organized under the laws of Venezuela or the United States that is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by or in a joint venture with a person located in or organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China; (4) Any transaction involving the processing or refining of Venezuelan￾origin minerals, including gold, in the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, or the People’s Republic of China; (5) The unblocking of any property blocked pursuant to the VSR; (6) Any transaction involving a blocked vessel; or (7) Exploration, development, mining, extraction, processing, refining, or production of minerals in Venezuela or the formation of joint ventures or other entities in Venezuela to engage in the foregoing activities.

(c) Any person that exports, reexports, sells, resells, purchases, or supplies Venezuelan-origin minerals, including gold, pursuant to this general license must provide a detailed report to Sanctions_inbox@state.gov and ofac_intake@doi.gov that identifies, for each of these transactions: (1) The parties involved; (2) Documentation demonstrating supply chain due diligence plans to determine the chain of custody of the minerals; (3) Quantities, descriptions, and purchase prices of the minerals; (4) The dates the transactions occurred; and (5) Any taxes, fees, or other payments provided to the Government of Venezuela. (d) Reports described in paragraph (c) are due ten days after the execution of the first of such transactions and every 30 days thereafter while such transactions are ongoing. (e) Effective March 27, 2026, General License No. 51, dated March 6, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 51A. Note to General License No. 51A. Nothing in this general license relieves any person from compliance with the requirements of other Federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. Bradley T. Smith, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. Dated: March 27, 2026. Bradley T. Smith, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control. [FR Doc. 2026–18572 Filed 9–10–26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P